He was once the 240th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
And then he lasted in the league for more than five years and won a Super Bowl ring.
Now, Richie James is calling it a career.
The former Middle Tennessee State star, who the 49ers chose in the seventh round seven years ago, has announced his retirement on the eve of training camp.
“It took time but I have come to realize I am retired from the NFL,” James wrote on X. “7th round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ball player to last that long. Unfortunately my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since ’22. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of Football.”
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James battled injuries, but he appeared in games across three seasons for the 49ers, catching 38 passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns.
He spent the 2022 season with the Giants, a career year with 57 grabs for 569 yards and four TDs.
In 2023, James joined the Chiefs, where he caught 10 passes in the regular season and ended up getting a Super Bowl ring.
James was also a strong return man, compiling 1,081 kick return yards and 373 punt return yards with one kick return touchdown in his career.
The retirement comes at age 29, the latest NFL retirement to come on the front side of 30.
The speedy James, based on his post, clearly didn’t feel like himself anymore due to the injury, and so he has hung up his cleats for the final time.
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